Local News

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors approved a primitive campground off Stone Mountain Road by a 6-1 vote Monday night, following a public hearing on the request.

The planning commission, last month, voted 4-1 in favor of a proposal by Linda Frisbee to establish a primitive campground, to be called Camp Karma, on her property. The vote came after a public hearing in which a majority of the speakers, many of them apparently angry, spoke against it.

By the time State Sen. Creigh Deeds rolled into town Saturday, most of the rain-soaked Centerfest crowd had already left for drier ground.

All, that is, except for the Democratic Party faithful who had been anticipating his arrival. So, instead of shaking hands up and down the streets of Centertown, Deeds held an impromptu rally at Bedford Democratic headquarters.

Eight educators learned of their selection this week as 2010 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year during surprise classroom visits made by their division superintendents, including Liberty High School science teacher Jami N. Key.

Key was visited Friday morning during an AP Biology class at LHS by a group of Central Office and School Board members who made the announcement.

Bedford Hospice House successfully completed its capital campaign this past summer. With $1.6 million in hand, the board are ready to build.

Now, the board needs a spot to build it. Bedford Memorial Hospital has offered a 2.5 acre site on property it owns, and Jacqueline Wente, chairman of Bedford Hospice House’s board of directors said the offer is still open. The problem is that this site may turn out to be much more expensive to build on than anyone originally anticipated.

Robert Lowry, director of the CVCC Bedford Center, passed away Monday after a long battle with cancer.

Lowry began work at Central Virginia Community College in November 2004 and opened the Bedford Center in January 2005. According to Robert Sandidge, acting director of the Bedford Center, Lowry did an outstanding job starting the Bedford Center and was well loved by the students, the many groups that met at the Center and the community in general.

Centerfest brought out several thousand people, even in the rain, and though many spent their money on crafts, games and food others actually went home with more money in their pocket than they started with that morning thanks to one vendor stationed in front of the county administration building.

And even if you didn’t stop by the Virginia Department of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division booth on Saturday, you might still have some money waiting for you to claim.

While Diane Wilson isn’t apt to overtake Donald Trump as a business wheeler-dealer, she certainly made a difference.

The Centerfest guru and co-owner of the Inn at Avenel played a key role in the transition of a business, keeping it in the Centerfest mix.

Captain Bill’s Peanuts has been a Centerfest fixture for many years. With its array of flavored peanuts and other goodies, the Captain (otherwise known as Bill Hartley) did a brisk business from his station at the northwest corner of Bridge and Main.

Eight educators learned of their selection this week as 2010 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year during surprise classroom visits made by their division superintendents, including Liberty High School science teacher Jami N. Key. Key was visited by a group of Central Office and School Board members during an AP Biology class Friday morning at LHS.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, 2nd Flyte will not appear at this year's Friday night Centerfest concert, according to event organizers. Opening for the event this Friday at the Farmer's Market stage will now be Terry Day from 7-8 p.m. and The Sam Austin Band will have the stage from 8—11 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. Adult admission is $10, children 12 and under are free.

Bedford’s Volunteer Fire Department had six men at the firehouse when they were dispatched to a fire at Olde Liberty Station at 11:36 Friday morning. According to Brad Creasy, the fire chief, they got two trucks there in a few minutes. The firehouse is on one end of Bedford Avenue and the historic train station and restaurant is on the opposite end.